Impact Report 2020-2025

Devon Environment Foundation funds grassroots nature restoration projects across Devon, channelling support from businesses and philanthropists to innovative local initiatives. Since 2020, over £1.2m in direct grants has been awarded to 87 projects with 43 partners, covering landscape regeneration, river restoration and marine conservation. DEF is a member of the Conservation Collective, a global network of local nature foundations. The 2020-2025 Impact Report covers the organisation's first five years, during which Devon's nature recovery movement has grown significantly.

Report snapshot
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📋About

Direct grants to grassroots nature restoration projects (kick-start and scale-up funding); landscape regeneration; river restoration; marine conservation; business and philanthropist partnerships; Conservation Collective membership (global network); capacity building for grassroots groups; Devon nature recovery support Custom geography from upload: Devon

📊Key Metrics

Over £1.2 million in direct grants awarded since 2020; 87 projects supported; 43 project partners worked with (as of April 2025) Key Metric 1
Member of Conservation Collective — global network of local foundations funding effective grassroots nature-based solutions; focus on landscape regeneration, river restoration and marine conservation Key Metric 2
Specialist in identifying innovative grassroots nature-based solutions in Devon to tackle the climate and nature crisis; Devon is home to two coastlines, two moors and diverse wetlands, woodlands, meadows and rivers Key Metric 3

Key Outcomes

  • Nature rebounds quickly given the right conditions — Devon's growing movement of nature restoration workers shows the grassroots model works; nature-based solutions sequester carbon, increase biodiversity, prevent flooding and droughts and offer opportunities for community connection
  • DEF specialises in identifying the most innovative and impactful grassroots solutions in Devon; member of Conservation Collective alongside similar local foundations globally; projects restore and protect Devon's exceptional natural beauty
  • Five-year review (2020-2025); PDF inaccessible (403 error) — data sourced from Conservation Collective and DEF website; founded to connect businesses and philanthropists with Devon grassroots restoration projects

📍Geography

South West

2025

Impact Report 2024/25

791 million unique visits; 10.3 million people per month visited canals and towpaths in 2024-25; 8.9 million people live within 10-15 minute walk of the network
Key Metric 1
5,473 volunteers gave 747,518 hours; 103,000+ children attended outdoor learning sessions; 69,000+ people attended water safety sessions; 70,000+ hours of community payback at 36 sites
Key Metric 2
£1.1bn annual savings to NHS from active waterway use (Valuing Our Waterways 2024); £11.7bn annual economic contribution supporting 230,000 jobs; 80%+ of network kept open through extreme weather
Key Metric 3
2025 NGO Impact Award winners in Unlocking Biodiversity; 741 miles of Green Flag awarded canals; 68 SSSIs and 1,500 non-statutory wildlife sites protected; 450 species recorded on Regent's Canal; 900+ species on Manchester's canals
2025

Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

32,000 people participated in learning activities; 65,000 volunteer hours contributed; 250,000 biodiversity-boosting plants and bulbs planted; 24,000 snowdrops planted by Royal Parks Half Marathon runners
Key Metric 1
94% of public rated their visit as good or excellent; 5 consecutive years all 8 parks awarded Green Flag; 160,000+ members making 300,000+ visits; membership generated £5.8m plus £814k Gift Aid
Key Metric 2
1,000 free plants donated to local charities, community groups and schools; 200 old noticeboards and maps replaced; 12,500 enquiries handled by visitor support team; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed
Key Metric 3
Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at Regent's Park received planning permission and is progressing — opening Spring 2026; Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground renewal received planning permission — opening Spring 2026; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed — new meadows, shrubs, community facilities
2025

Impact Report 2023-2025

27,000 applicants over three training series (2023, 2024, 2025); 5,400 young people trained; 65% from most affected people and areas (MAPA); 21% Indigenous youth
Key Metric 1
89% of participants strengthened international climate policy knowledge; 77% felt more confident to advocate in UNFCCC forums; 60% credited GYCT for their success in international climate policy
Key Metric 2
£36,000 in youth bursaries distributed to fund COP attendance; 100,000+ YouTube views; 6 languages of live interpretation; University of Oxford Vice Chancellor's Award for Environmental Sustainability 2024
Key Metric 3
Climate Guidebook shortlisted for Re-Earth Initiative; 81% of 2024 participants interested in applying to University of Oxford; GYC co-director Agustín Ocaña and participants represented Rwanda, Colombia, Uganda at international climate forums